POLL: do you use the rhythm method?

When Adam Levine of Maroon 5 told OK magazine that he and his (Victoria Secret) girlfriend use the rhythm method as their contraception of choice I had to stifle a chortle.

The Catholic Church would be proud. This the reason women remained barefoot and constantly pregnant, until the rise of feminism in the sixties forced the almost universal move to contraception methods that actually did what they were supposed to. That is: work.

Pulling out before the magic moment? Maybe Adam Levine has a trick mickey but for the rest of the mortal population is this a goer?

Hilarious! Reminds me of our sex ed classes in school when the only method of contraception mentioned involved thermometers and colouring in charts in different colours. The fact that the teacher had 8 kids should have indicated the effectiveness of this plan!

Ah the Days of Yore. The good old Rhythm method. “I’ve got Rhythm, I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got 12 kids, who could ask for anything more’ do do do doo… As my mother used to say “don’t forget your aspirin” – “Wha?”, the best contraceptive method = “A plain old aspirin, put it between your knees and hold tight”, a no brainer!!!! Abstinance at certain times of the month, makes a bit of old sense in a lot of ways, but not when you’re ovulating, it’s then you want a bit of a ride. No, the rhythm method is cruel. Goes against Nature.

Sure wasn’t there some hubub recently that Lily Aldridge and some other Victoria’s Secret model walked the runway of the VS show while carrying early pregnancies? Must be the VS contraceptive method of choice so.

Ya we use this method sometimes, not all the times though. I am not on the pill, never want to never will be, condoms all the way. We don’t have sex 7 days a week, so why put some pill in your body everyday of the year. But that’s just me, I am not against the pill or anything.

Am I the only one who find’s Adam Levine a bit gross? I really don’t see the appeal & don’t like Maroon 5 either, especially that god awful She Will Be Loved song, she’ll be knocked up as well from the sounds of it

Is that who Adam Levine is? I hate when skinny guys bulk up and get loads of tattoos to look tough.

I use this method now post baby, I don’t have a chart or anything but I know my cycle. Like RiRi I don’t want to put hormones in my body when I don’t have too. It’s got nothing to do with religion or morals, it’s just my choice. And when you’re trying for a baby at least you know when you’re ovulating.

We’ve been using this for a while now because I don’t like hormonal birth control, he doesn’t like condoms, and the diaphragm and sponge just don’t seem to get mentioned these days (think the sponge even went out of production for a few years for no particular reason?).
We’re completely baby-less and wish to stay that way long term, so I’m getting a copper IUD soon. In the meantime, I use a period tracking site to keep track of my cycle (think everyone should do this anyway, it’s so useful!)
TMI maybe – but we only sow the oats when aunt flow is visiting and the soil is infertile, other times we withdraw the weapon before any shots are fired or he just learns to get along with Johnny. Works for us so far, but I wouldn’t ever recommend to anyone younger or who wasn’t prepared for the risks.

Isn’t the rhythm method also about tracking your cycle and abstaining totally during your more fertile times? Not just about pulling out before the end?

I always thought it was. Couples use it in reverse to find their most fertile times to help them get pregnant, only having sex during the most fertile periods and it seems to be a fairly decent way to get pregnant. So it kinda makes sense that it would work to help you prevent pregnancy as well, if you knew the best times to abstain.

In saying that, I absolutley believe nobody should use this method unless they are in a stable long term relationship and are prepared to become parents should the method fail. Apart from pregnancy, nobody should use this method unless they are 100 per cent clear of STIs and have been tested for all the usual suspects first (HIV, chlamydia, herpes).

I think if a long-term/married couple want to use this method, and are aware of the possible consequences, then more power to them.

@ Karen (Beating Myself Into a Dress) is completely right – it’s more about the use of calendars and your temperatures and knowing your cycle as much as possible – not just pulling out!!!
Would not be a fan tbh – would rather the be sure than always guessing and I’m no way ready for a baby yet! It must be working for them so far though – seeing as they’ve no kids yet…(emphasis on the word, yet!)

I’m on the pill, but a couple of friends use the rhythm method. Some girls get really bad side effects from the pill, and don’t like using condoms. They’re hardcore into it and do the temperature taking and all that. They realise it’s a v risky method (something like 20% failure rate, yikes!) but are married/ in a serious relationship so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they did fall pregnant. This is def not a method for a casual relationship.

Just to be clear…the rhythm method is not the guy pulling out just before ‘the end’!!! I’m worried about young girls reading this and thinking withdrawal is a viable contraceptive. Don’t do it girls…that’s a definite baby maker!!! Plus it gives zero protection from STDS…use a condom!!!